Swann era ends, new chairman in talks

Gainsborough Trinity could have a new chairman by the end of the week.

Outgoing club owner Peter Swann – whose reign comes to an end after Saturday’s game at Corby – told the Standard that a successor had been identified.

Swann is departing after walking away from talks with the Blues Club, owners of the Northolme ground he says he wanted to purchase in order to secure the club’s future.

He said: “We’ve got someone who would like to do the job, we’re still in the process of working on that.”

“Hopefully by the end of the week we’ll have a decision in place for the running of the football club.”

Businessman Swann, who revealed he has had a number of calls from clubs inviting him to get involved, said he was sad to be leaving and called on the Blues Club to work alongside the football club’s new leader.

“I’m sure the new chairman will be working closely with the Blues Club, it’s a good opportunity for them to do what they said they would do and work to try and keep Trinity on a sound base,” he said.

“The football club puts on the entertainment and they should get a bit more back from it.”

“I’m sad to be leaving, I’m disappointed.”

“I nearly took the club to the Blue Square Premier and nearly took it to Wembley, I did all I could to prove that what I wanted was success for the club.”

“Unfortunately some people think I perhaps had alterior motives, but it was all about my love for football.”

The Blues Club have released a statement detailing their side of the Northolme story, insisting that it was Swann who walked away from talks and that they had remained open to acceptable offers.

The chairman was unwilling to comment on that statement, and instead is looking to his future in the sport.

“I’ve had so many calls from people who want me on their team,” he said.

“I’ve learned a lot from these five years, I’ve always wanted to be hands on, I’ve been involved in every signing.”

“If I don’t stay involved then I just might struggle to come back into the game, because this has been a blow.”

“Hopefully I can still play a role in football, whether that’s local or not local.”